AMN
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to consult North Eastern states in finalisation of the details of the peace accord signed with NSCN(IM) last week. This was stated by Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh in New Delhi yesterday after meeting with Prime Minister over the issue. According to the news agency, the Manipur Chief Minister as also his Nagaland counterpart T.R. Zeliang separately met the Prime Minister, during which the issue related to the Naga peace accord was discussed.
The Prime Minister’s assurance comes against the backdrop of attack by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on him, saying that North East Chief Ministers were not consulted on the Naga peace accord. The Manipur Chief Minister, along with his counterparts in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, had protested for not having consulted the neighbouring states of Nagaland before signing the initial accord with NSCN-IM on last week. The NSCN-IM has been asking for integration of Naga inhabited areas in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. All three states are opposed to the outfit’s demand.
The Manipur Chief Minister also met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and sought a copy of the Naga accord, which was signed by NSCN(IM) chief T Muivah and Centre’s interlocutor RN Ravi. Official sources said the Home Minister also allayed fears of change of territorial boundary of North eastern states by assuring that Chief Ministers of the region would be consulted before the agreement is finalised.